LCMS Measurement of Steroid Biomarkers Collected from Palmar Sweat

Human eccrine sweat contains numerous biomarkers which can provide information on health, performance, and aging. Non-invasive collection and measurement of biomarkers has become especially important in recent times given viral outbreaks like SARS-CoV-2. In the current study we describe a method of sweat collection from palmar surfaces in participants via surface capture using glass beads and the resulting analysis of biomarkers from very low volumes of sweat using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. Study participants underwent a cognitive and physical stress task with easy and hard conditions with sweat being collected after each task. Resulting analysis found a signal for 22 steroid biomarkers and we report detailed information on selected biomarkers, given their applicability to timely real-world exemplars, including cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, allopregnanolone, estrone, aldosterone, and 20α/β-dihydrocortisone.